Automobile body



July 20 1926. 1,593,005 c. A. BAiLEY AUTOMOB ILE BODY Filed March 1926 2 Sheets-$heet 2 15ml/621152222 Caf/TZ Jazily,

Patented July ZU, 1926.

UNITED STATES CARL A. BAILEY, OF LISBON FALLS, MAINE.

AUTOMOB FLE BODY.

Application led March 7 1928.

This invention relates to automobile bodies, and more particularly t-o the front corner or post construction of closed car bodies t Its rirnary object is to eliminate the blind spots:7 or blind areas so called, that is, to give the driver full vision both straight ahead and obliquely ahead on either side in the .tield of vision otherwise intercepted and lo obstructed by the present usual solid metal or wooden liront corner posts of the ca r body.

Further objects are to avoid weakening the body, to provide for easy replacement, toprovide means ter supporting the upper portions of the front doors if desired, and to prevent rattling and vibration.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure l represents'a perspective view of a portion of a closed automobile body ern` E0 bodying my invention;

Figure 2, perspective view ci .ne transparent post used at each front corner of 'the body and constituting the essential feature of my invention, broadly considered;

Figure 3, a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 4;

Figure Il, a sectional view on the line .t-llof Fi 3, looking upward in the direction of tie arrow;

Figure 5, a sectional view on the line 5-5 or Fig. 3, looking downward in the direction cf the arrow;

Figure 6, a view similar to Fig. 2 ol? 'a modification wherein the transparent portion or post is triangular, or substantially triangular, andsolid in cross-section;

Figure 7, a cross-sectional view -.on the line 7*? of Fig. 6, looking toward the top socket 3 with said socket 3 thereon;

Figure 8 a view similar to F ig. 6 of a further modification wherein the tra sparent post is arcuate in cross-section, and wherein the front, bottom and ends of' the sockets will be integral with the cowl and with the top res ectively of the body or .welded thereto, an the rear plate of the sockets will be separate and removable and bolts will be used passing through' the front and rear jplates of thel respective sockets and through terial to hold the' transparent posts in place, preferably suitable cushioning material being arranged about the bolts and between the sockets andthe glass or other transparent material of the posts to prevent direct conf oies in the intervening transparent post ma- Serial No. 91,480.

tact between said posts and said bolts and sockets;

kFigure 9, a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on a vertical line through one end ot the modified form of post of Figure 8 intersecting one of the colt holes 14 thereof, said post being seated in its socket shown in sectionand broken away;

Figure 10, a view similar to Fig. 8, of a further modified form of transparent post arcuate on its outer face and straight on its inner face; v

Figure 1l, a cross-sectional view on line 1l ot Fig. l0, looking in the direction of the arrow and showing the top socket 3I ref ceiving the said post; and

Figure l2, a view similar to Figures I and l1 of a further modification very similar to that of Figures 8 and 9, the only difference between them being that both parts oi the sockets 3b are separate from the body of the car and are secured thereto in pro er position and relation .by means of bo ts, screws, rivets or the like as preferred.

Heretofore there has been much objection particularly toclosed cars` because the driver could not see obliquely aheadon account of the obstruction to his vvision by the front corner posts, so vthat he could not see tratlic coming out of a side street, or a person stepping into his path so long as said trallie or person was 'in the field obstructed by the corner posts, which, in view ot the bulk and nearness of the posts, particularly the left post, to the eyes ot' the driver, com arised a relatively largeareaobliquely ahe This has been a generally-recognized defect, c0Inmonly referred to aswblind spots or blind areas, andvarious efforts to solve the problem have been made, but the; 4automobihi world is still seeking a practical answer to this problem.

I seek to cure the difiiculty by providing transparent colorless or substantially colorless, or preferably colorless front corner 10i posts, such as. glass, preferably of a malleabl or tough or norbbreakable or flexible or semi-flexible nature, or any other suitable transparent preferably colorless or substantially colorless material preferably hav- 105 ing a high degree of `resistance to strains, twists, ends strains and thrusts and sudden jerks and jars, the essential point being that through it or a substantial vertical portion of it, the driver may have t'ull unhampered 110 vision in e transverse direction from extreme edge to extreme edge of the post.

My invention further contemplates any suitable means combining with said transparent post element to suitably secure tlie sume in position; and further, preferably, the combination of said post element and said securing means with the body in such .manner that thc said post will function in support i; und. holding the top substan ticliy in the same manner as the present wooden or metal posts.

My invention further contemplates details whereby the menus 4or mounting scid posts will cooperate with the wind-shield and front doors to pivotslly support said windshield and to provide for its adjustment, and whereby the upper portions of the front doors vwill be liingedly mounted on the upper sockets for said posts.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, B designates the roof or top of tlic body, A the hood of the car, C one of the side front doors, D one of the rear side doors, E the iniddie supp-or ing post or panel, F the cowl, and G the usuel one-piece wind-shield now in extensive use and operated 'by usual means, for instance, nu arcuate arm H extending from the lower part of one side of the Wind-shield frame and clamped in usual manner between strep 2 of the lower socket Il und said lower socket l by a clampingr i working through said strap Q, said brackets It which muy be integral upper sockets 3.

K the usual cowl ventilator'.

y; sockets 3 will preferably be provided ivii horizontal outer Webs 5 and un web ii, all. of Suid webs being formed ivi pcrforations t to receive bolts, screws or similar fastenings 8 to firmly scoure saif sockets, preferably detscliabiy, to the top or roof B of tbe body.

The lower sockets l wil preferably be provided each with the horizontal perforated 'web 6, and with depending perforated webs or fla s 9 to receive screws, bolts or similar festenings 8 passing through said websand into or through the adjacent portion of the cowl F or other supporting structure to secure said lower sockets firmly thereto.

The transparent preferably colorless or substantially colorless post elements l() pre'll erably have l'heir upper and lower end portions of reduced thickness and Width so that the front and sides of cach clement 10 will be flush with the outer and side or end faces of its sockets l and 3, cushioning 1l, of any suitable materiel, such as rubber, felt, or several layers of rubber and felt, or some composite niuteriul, being' preferably interposed between the shoulders 12, formed by such cutting away, und the' opposed edges of hi ged or pivotally mounted as` the sockets i and 3, end also et -v l `points between the reduced E Jorticns of the transporent post elements und said sockets to cushion said posts and avoid unpleasant .rattle and vibration.

Thus it will be seen that there is no obstruction to vision between the iront frame member of ythe front door, and the eide of the Wind-sl1.eld, which need not have a frame extending about its bottoni and side edges, or but partially clown the side edges from the top, or may have the entendin entirely around the glass of the wind-Shiel as shown, so that nowhere between seid front door and the adjacent side of the windshield is there any object in any way interfering with the drivers vision, so that by this construction the driver is given full unobstructed vvision obiiquely ebend.

ln order tlint the iront door C maybe hingedl supported for substantially its full length yprovide die upper and lower sockets 3 und l respect ely with hinge members 13, which may be integral with said sockets, or fastened thereto in any suitable menner as desired, und tu which the cooperating hinge elements secured to the door may pivotally connected in the @eine manner es is now usual with toe usuel wooden or rne'tel front corner post construction. c In the modiied foi-in illustrated in Figures ily and 7, `the construction, assembly sind operation are the in the preferred 'forni above described, except that the trans* parent post 10' is solid or prismetic end substantially triangular in cross-section, 'the side and rear corners being squared on' to avoid a sluirp edge, the sockets correspondin forni, as estratoin Figure A to upper socket 3% In the niodiicetion illustrstcdin figures 8 and i) the trcnsperent preferably coloriess post 10" muy be crcuete in crosssection es shown, und is provided in its reduced end portions 'with peri'orations to receive fas tcnin f bolts l5 pas. ng through the inner reiovn le plete 1G, ne rigid plete l?, the cushioning materiel ll and the intervening` material of the post l0 am.` receiving con operating nuts 18.

The rigid outer plete l? will preiercbly be integral with the cowl F as shown, or the top or roof Bof the car, es the case ma be,

ioning material 11, will be arran ed about c the respective bolts 15 to prevent irect contact between said bolts and said post 10. lVitli this construction, in case of need for replacement, it suflices to remove the inner plates 16 in a horizontal plane, remove the .damaged post 10", fit the new post 10" in the arcuate post 10b illustrated, but may be embodied in an assemblage wherein the post is of the form shown in Fig. 2, or of the the body, but onthe contrary they may be se arate therefrom, being secured thereto su stantially as are the `sockets of the preferred form, as illustrated in Figure 12, which modified form is in all other respects the same as the modification shown in Figures 8 and 9 and above described.

In the modication illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 the construction, assembly and operation willbe in all respects the same as in the preferred form, except that'the transparent posts l()C will be solid and substantially arcuate in cross-section, the side and rear edges being squared olf to avoid a sharp edge and the sockets corresponding in form as illustrated in Figure 11 as to the upper socket 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

ljln a closed automobile body, a transparent substantially colorless front corner post, and means for securing said post in position. i

2. In a closed automobile body, a downn wardly presented socket provided at the front corner of the top ot' the body, and an upwardly-presented socket provided at the front corner of the cowl and vertically in registry with said upper opposed socket, in combination with a transparent corner post having its end portions respectively received in said sockets.

3. In a closed automobile body, a downwardly presented socket provided at the front corner of the top of the body, and an 'upwardly presented socket provided at the yfront corner of the cowl and vertically in registry with said upper opposed socket, in combination with a transparent corner post having its end portions respectively received in said sockets, said sockets being provided with hinge elements t'orthe mounting of a third element.

4. In a closed automobile body, :i down- 'wardly presented socket rigid with the root of the body, an upwardly presented socket rigid with said body and vertically in yregistry with, and below, the opposed down- 'ardly presented socket, and a transparent substantially colorless post having its respective end portions received in the respcctive sockets, incombination with a door, hinge members carried by said door, and hinge members carried by said sockets and respectively cooperating with said door hinge members.

5. ln a closed automobile body, a down? wardly presented socket provided at the front corner of the top of the body, an upwardly presented socket, provided at the front corner of the cowl and vertically in registry with said upper opposed socket, and a transparent corner post having its end portions respectively received in said sockets, in combination with a wind shield, and means carried by said wind-shield and said upper socket for pivotally mounting one end of said windshield to swing in a vertical direction with relation to said means.

6. In a closed automobile body, a downwardly presented socket provided at the front upper corner ol the top ot the body, an upwardly presented socket provided at the front corner of the cowl and vertically in registry with said upper opposed socket, and a transparent corner post having its end portions respectively received in said sockets, in combination with a wind-shield, and cooperating means carried by said wind shield and said lower socket for locking said wind-shield in any desired position of adjustment.

7. In a closed automobile body, a downwardly presented socket carried by the top of the body, an upwardly presented socket carried by said body and vertically in registry with, and below, the opposed downwardly presented socket, and a transparent substantially colorless post having its respective end portions received in the respective sockets, in combination with a door, 'a' hinge member carried bysaid door, and a `hinge member carried by one of said sockets and cooperating with said door hinge incinbc'r.

Si In a closed automobile body, a verti cally disposed opposed pair of sockets provided at eachfront corner of the body and fixed with relation thereto, und a train.- parent substantially colorless corner post having its end portions received in the respective sockets of said pairs of sockets respectively, in c unl inat.ion with a windshield interposcd between said pairs of sockels, adoor, means provided on said windshield and the upper sockets ol. said pairs of sockets for pivotally mounting said windshield to swing in a vertical direction, and one olI said upper sockets and said door boing provided with cooperating hinge means for hugedly :Wuming said door t0 swing in said pardon extending mnsversey from u horzontzx piane. treme edge to extreme edge of Said post.

i). l1; u closed :mmumbilc body, a mndln testimony whereof, have slgned my 10 shehi, und 2, vor? in combiuuion with a name to Ulis specicaon at Lisbon Falls, posi extending uvm' Lm full uen hemmen Maine, this 26th day 'of February 19:26. sul@ door und \vnc`-5hiu1d und having :L pub tion transparant und substantially odorless, CARL' A. BAILF-V 

